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 Lawrence A. Allen, Jr. is a Democrat and has been a member of the SBOE since 2005.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- He voted against reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- Referring to the English standards, he said “If you are going to affect the educational process in the state of Texas, the most important people included in that should be the teachers of the state of Texas.”(1)
 Mary Helen Berlanga is a Democrat and has been a member of the SBOE since 1982.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- She voted against reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- “They (the religious conservatives on the board) will want to get rid of the theory of evolution (in science textbooks), or at least dilute it as much as possible. They want to put in intelligent design, or creationism.”(2)
- She co-nominated David Hillis, biology professor and director of the Center of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at the University of Texas, to the state science curriculum expert review panel in October, 2008.(3)
 David Bradley is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 1997.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- He voted for reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- In 2002 he Strongly Favored this position on Creationism: “Present scientific evidence supporting intelligent design, and not just evolution, and treat both theories as viable ones on the origin of life.”(4)
- In 2008 he Strongly Favored this position on “Evolution Weaknesses”: “Biology textbooks which do not teach both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of the theory of evolution must be rejected by the board.”(5)
- He co-nominated Stephen Meyer, anti-evolutionist and vice president of the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, to the state science curriculum expert review panel in October 2008.(6)
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- He wants to “make sure the next group of textbooks includes the strengths and weaknesses of evolution.” (7)
- In 2003, he voted with three other board members against adopting new biology textbooks because the books did not include what he believes are “weaknesses” of the theory of evolution. “My vote is a subjective vote,” he said. “I am not a scientist; I am a lay board member . . . and we are elected to represent the common people out there in our districts.”(8)
- Despite his personal snub of public schools, Bradley claims he is involved in setting public education policy “because I’m a taxpayer and a businessman.”(9)
- He rejected an advanced placement environmental science textbook in 2001 because he said the book erred in saying that suburban development “swallows up” hillside country in California. In his view, “such developments create jobs and ‘quality of life.’”(10) The board ultimately rejected the textbook, with members of the board’s far-right faction calling it anti-American and anti-Christian and criticizing its discussion on pollution and global warming as “junk science.”
- His most dramatic rejection, however, was of an algebra textbook that he criticized for pictures, recipes (!), and references to women’s suffrage, biology and the Vietnam War. By law, the state board can reject textbooks only if they fail to cover established state curriculum standards, contain factual errors or do not meet manufacturing specifications. Knowing that his ideological bias was not a legally sufficient reason to reject the math textbook, Bradley tore the cover off (with some effort), stating, “Ladies and gentlemen, worthless binding. I reject this book.”(11)
- He has home-schooled his two children.(12)
- He attended college, but did not graduate.(13)
- His eligibility to serve the district in which he has been elected is under investigation.(14)
 Barbara Cargill is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2005. She was appointed by Governor Perry as Chair for the 2011-2012 term, replacing Gail Lowe.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- She causes some consternation among Board members by her comments to the Texas Eagle Forum.(15)
- She denies common descent(16,17).
- She voted for reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- Despite her experience as a public school science teacher, Cargill has been a supporter of ideas far outside the scientific mainstream.
- In 2008 she Strongly Favored this position on “Evolution Weaknesses”: “Biology textbooks which do not teach both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of the theory of evolution must be rejected by the board.”(18)
- She wrote ”… when evidence for universal common ancestry in the fossil record is taught (i.e. scientific strength), then the contradictory evidence showing the huge gaps of missing transitional fossils in the record must also be presented (i.e. scientific weakness).”(19) She misrepresents gaps in the fossil record as scientific weaknessess of evolution, but a gap is not a scientific weakness and does not contradict evolution – it is merely an area for further research.
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- She co-nominated Ralph Skeele, anti-evolutionist and Wisconsin based professor, to the state science curriculum expert review panel on October, 2008.(20)
- She said “There is no doubt in my mind that both the strengths and weaknesses of evolution must be presented in science textbooks.”(21)
- She founded and directs Wonders of the Woodlands Science Camp. The camp is billed as an outreach program of the Woodlands United Methodist Church. A link from the camp’s Web site to “Kids4Truth” takes viewers to stories promoting “intelligent design.”
- She defeated a Republican incumbent, Linda Bauer, whom the far-right faction targeted in 2004 after Bauer refused the previous year to oppose biology textbooks that included a full scientific account of evolution. “I think the district also wanted a more conservative voice,” Cargill declared.(22)
- She also had the financial backing of San Antonio businessman James Leininger, who has regularly donated to far-right board candidates. Others endorsing her included Cathie Adams, president of the far-right Texas Eagle Forum.
- In a letter posted on an anti-evolution Web site, Cargill thanked her supporters in the 2004 election: “To God be the Glory for our victorious election results last night!” She was referring to her own election and the victories of incumbent SBOE members Terri Leo and Gail Lowe, other members of the board’s far-right faction, in March 2004.(23)
 George M. Clayton is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2011.
 Bob Craig is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2003.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- He voted against reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- “I truly believe teachers make a difference. If we’re going to appoint them to redo the standards, we should listen to them. We’re getting away from listening to good input. It shouldn’t be educational professions against us.”(24)
- He co-nominated Gerald Skoog, professor and dean emeritus of the College of Education at Texas Tech University and co-director of the Center for Integration of Science Education and Research, to the state science curriculum expert review panel in October, 2008.(25)
 Marsha Lane Farney, Ph.D. is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2011.
 Carlos “Charlie” Garza is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2011.
 Patricia Hardy is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2003.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- She voted against reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- She does not favor putting any religious teachings into science classes.(26)
- “I am open to having intelligent design in there because there is a large body of evidence unanswered by the theory of evolution. We first need to hear from science educators and experts about whether this should be done,”(27)
- She co-nominated Ronald Wetherington, professor of anthropology at Southern Methodist University and director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, to the state science curriculum expert review panel in October, 2008.(28)
 Mavis B. Knight is a Democrat and has been a member of the SBOE since 2003.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- She voted against reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- Ms. Knight is expecting a push from intelligent design backers to include it in the curriculum next year, but she is firmly against such a move even though many Texans with creationist views may favor it.(29)
- “My position is if you're strong in your faith, then even if what is taught in a [science] class is contrary to your religious beliefs, it will not weaken your faith.”(30)
- She co-nominated Gerald Skoog, professor and dean emeritus of the College of Education at Texas Tech University and co-director of the Center for Integration of Science Education and Research, to the state science curriculum expert review panel in October, 2008.(31)
 Gail Lowe is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2003. She was Chair of the Board for the 2009-2010 term, replacing Don McLeroy, but the Texas Senate decline to approve her renomination by Governor Perry for a second term as Chair.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- She voted for reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- She co-nominated Charles Garner, anti-evolutionist and chemistry professor, to the state science curriculum expert review panel in October, 2008.(39)
- In 2002 she Strongly Favored this position on Creationism: “Present scientific evidence supporting intelligent design, and not just evolution, and treat both theories as viable ones on the origin of life.”(40)
- In 2008 she Strongly Favored this position on “Evolution Weaknesses”: “Biology textbooks which do not teach both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of the theory of evolution must be rejected by the board.”(41)
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- Her favorite “weakness” seems to be the polystrate fossils, as mentioned at a recent SBOE meeting.
- Contrary to the stated position of the National Academy of Sciences, she told Texas Monthly: “The National Academy of Sciences has still stated that [evolution] is not a fact, and we don’t believe evolution ought to be taught as a fact.”(42) The actual position of the National Academy of Sciences is that evolution is both a fact and a theory.
- In 2003, Lowe was one of four SBOE members to vote against the adoption of new biology textbooks because those textbooks did not include creationist fabricated “weaknesses” in the theory of evolution.(43)
- She wants full authority to censor textbooks returned to the SBOE ”… to ensure that the authority for such decisions rests with the State Board of Education, not with an appointed educrat or administrative bureaucracy.”(44)
- She opposes teaching high school health students about contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases through any method other than abstinence. “I think parents have overwhelmingly shown that they want abstinence to be taught” (45)
- “Lowe said she guarantees she will turn down any book encouraging population removal or blaming global warming on the normal activities of everyday people.”(46)
- She is a newspaper editor, not a climate scientist. She works as an editor and copy editor for a semi-weekly newspaper in Lampasas.
- James and Cecilia Leininger, proponents of private school vouchers and social conservative causes, donated to her campaign in 2004.
 Ken Mercer is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2007.
- Bio and Contact Information at SBOE site.
- He voted for reintroducing the “strengths and weaknesses” in the 2009 standards.
- He said “Any real scientist understands there are major weaknesses in evolution.”(47)
- His favorite “weaknesses” are the Piltdown Man and Haeckel's embryos, as he has mentioned at many SBOE meetings.(48)
- In 2006, he Strongly Favored this position on Intelligent Design: “Present scientific evidence in our public schools supporting intelligent design, and not just evolution, and treat both theories as viable ones on the origin of life.”(49)
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- He co-nominated Ralph Skeele, anti-evolutionist and Wisconsin based professor, to the state science curriculum expert review panel in October, 2008.(50)
- He wrote that ”… they got a very well deserved spanking …,” referring to the teacher work groups that recommended the new English Language Arts standards in May , 2008. (51)
- He told a reporter “We should let kids hear both sides of the story,” when asked whether “intelligent design” should be taught alongside the scientific theory of evolution.(52)
- He received $35,000 — more than half of the money his opponent raised during his 2006 campaign — from wealthy San Antonio businessman James Leininger, the primary financial backer of far-right candidates for the SBOE.(53)
- He was also endorsed by the Texas Home School Coalition, Texas Right to Life, Texas Eagle Forum, Concerned Women for America, and the pro-ID Texans for Better Science Education.(54)
- He strongly opposes including comprehensive sex education in the public school health curriculum.(55)
- He supports private school vouchers.(56)
- He argues that Christians are a victimized group. “The most discriminated people in this country are not blacks or Hispanics, or any other groups of color or race,” but rather “the most … politically correct discrimination is … against any Christian American who would dare stand up for the protection of their family!”(57)
- He strongly opposes legislative protections against discrimination based on a student’s sexual orientation.(58)
 Thomas Ratliff is a Republican and has been a member of the SBOE since 2011.
 Michael Soto, Ph.D is a Democrat and has been a member of the SBOE since 2011.
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